Pianist Vincenzo Maltempo. Johannes Brahms - CD Review, June 1st 2026

Johannes Brahms - Three Intermezzi, Op. 117; 6 Pieces, Op. 118

Premiere album, released on April 24th

Vincenzo Maltempo is a talented Italian pianist with an extensive discography devoted particularly to Romantic repertoire, including works by Johannes Brahms, Robert Schumann and Charles-Valentin Alkan. Maltempo recorded Brahms's two piano concertos in 2018, and in April of this year he released a double album featuring the four Ballades, Op. 10, as well as the set of pieces Opp. 116-119, works dating from Johannes Brahms's mature period.

From this album, I would like to present on Radio România Muzical the Three Intermezzi, Op. 117, one of the most expressively concentrated works from the German composer's late period. Each of the three pieces is a miniature poem steeped in melancholy, tranquility, simplicity and emotional depth. Pianist Vincenzo Maltempo delivers a sensitive and meditative interpretation of these works. Also featured on Radio România Muzical are the Six Pieces, Op. 118 for piano, composed by Brahms in 1893.

Italian pianist Vincenzo Maltempo is admired for his musical intelligence, refined touch and a rich, colorful and expressively powerful sonic language. He studied in Rome and Imola and has performed on major stages across Europe, North America and South America. He is currently a professor at the Turin Conservatory and the founder and artistic director of the "Alkan Prize for Piano Virtuosity" International Piano Competition.

The pianist is also enganged in large-scale recording projects, the most recent being this double album featuring solo piano works by Johannes Brahms. In his liner notes, the musician observes: "I have always believed that, when performing Brahms's late works - masterpieces of contrapuntal style with impeccable formal construction - one must convey their intimate and almost improvisatory character. Beyond the clichés surrounding Brahms's music - frequently portrayed as heavy, solemn and formalistic - my intention here is to recover a more intimate, passionate and human image of these splendid final testaments to Johannes Brahms's creative genius." With his refined technique and deep understanding of the profoundly romantic nature of Brahms's work, Vincenzo Maltempo gives these sets of miniature pieces introspective interpretations filled with lyricism, poetry and tenderness.

The album was recorded last year in Rome and released as part of the Piano Classics collection presented by the Brilliant Classics record label.